Cleaning drier



March 25, 1930. s CHASE, 4T|| ET AL 1,751,681

CLEANING DRIER Filed March 2', 1925 Patented Mar. 25, 193D UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE STEPHEN` CHASE, 4th, OE CHICAGO, AND BENJAMIN S. PEEIEEEE,OE WINNETKA, ILLI- NOIS, AssIGNOEs, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, ToCHASE MACHINE COM- PANY, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OEILLINOISY CLEANING DEIEE Application filed 'March 2, 1925. Serial No.12,517.

This'invention relates to improvements in drying apparatus of the typedisclosed in our co-pending application Seria-l No. 699,815, led March14, 1924, of which this 5 application is a continuationin part. AIt isintended for the rapid dryingof fabrics,`such as carpets and rugs, whichhave beenA subjected to the cleaning orscrubbing operation and isdesigned to accomplish thedrying,

V- and incidentally the finishing of the surface of the fabric, rapidlyand uniformly while` the fabric is passing through the apparatus,incidental to thel cleaning operation.v An important feature of theapparatus is the entirelyfautomatic, continuous and complete performanceof the renovating treatment, which permits the dirty rug beingintroduced at one end ofthe machine and, afterbeing v subjected to theOperation thereof, being discharged at the tail end of the machinecompletelycleaned and dried and readyfor immediate rolling or use.

ltwill be understood that ina machine of the type disclosedin saidapplication, the rug is transmitted in an out-spread condition with itspile surface, or the surface to be subjected tothe scrubbing operation,presented downwardly, and incident to the progressive a movement of thefabricsaid surface is thoroughly cleaned by the application of cleaningmaterial and appropriate scrubbing Operations. This necessarily vleavesa consider.

able amount of moisture in the fabricwhicli it is desired to removethoroughly and quickly and without subjecting the fabric to an eX- stremely high temperature. Consequently as the portions of the fabricleave the scrubbing mechanism they proceed immediately over a dryingapparatus whereby heated airis im-V pinged on the under surface whilethe latter is subjected to a brushing or wiping opera-` tion which,agitates the pile of the material,

and nally lav allthe er space, providing for a better Confinement of theheated air in contact with the fabric, providing for a more effectivedrying of the brushes or wipingdevices and particularly making provisionfor the rapid withdrawal of the moisture laden air and any lint whichmay be brushed from the fabric. The ac# complishment of these objectsmakes for a more eiicient and rapid-Operation of the machine, amorethorough drying at a lower tem'` perature, removes circumstances whichmight sometimescause a soiling Of the fabric incident to the dryingoperation', decreases wear on the fabric and makes for a higher outputbecause of the opportunity which it affords for transmission of thefabric through the machine at an increased rate. Y

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention' willbe pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims or obviousto one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. Y Y

In theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, wehave illustrated` lan embodiment of the invention in a diagrammaticfashion. It will-be understood, however, that the invention as specifiedin the claims is not to be construed as limited to this particularstructural form.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional elevation through a partof the apparatus;V and Y Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional velevation Such as might be taken on ,approximately line 2&2 of Fig. 1. i

vAn understandingof the natureof the invention will be attained mostquickly by reference immediately to the illustrative embodiv ment. Itwill be understood that the machine includes suitable frame members forSupporting the various Operating parts, includ'- ing suitable`transmission mechanism for transmitting endless chains, which runlongitudinally at the side of -the machine, and1 which are illustratedin the present instance by the chain portion 10.A A support-forthefabric incident to its passage through theV machine is afforded by aseries of laterally is` connected at one side of the machine to a spacedwires 11 extending longitudinally of the machine in various staggeredrelationships. Above this support and between the contact theundersurface of a fabricoiithe.

support; Appropriate actuating mechanism is provided for operating thebrush. The

p brush is housed between the super-j acent portion'of'the retainingplate 1Q, a bottoni drying compartment wall 16. and.` transverselyextending air chests 17 disposed ahead of and beli'i'nd'the brush. Theair chest is subdivided y by: a diagonalv partition 18 extendingtransversely of the machine, into a supply. compartment 19 andawithdrawal compartment 20,'the former arranged above the latter. Thebottomy drying 'compartment wall Vslopes downwardly Vbetweeirthe` supplycompartment fwall of one chest and the withdrawal compartment wall ofthe adjacent chest. The air chests are closed at the top by fiat topwalls 21 which lie approXimately on the level of the supporting Wires11. rlhe supply chest supply conduit 2:2, while the withdrawalcompartment is connectedat theopposite side of the machine with anexhaust conduit 24. The 4supply conduit is provided nearits top withanoutlet slot Q5 dischargingY into the dry- @gli 22 and 'into the supplycompartment 19 ingf compartment', and the withdrawal conipartment 2O hasan Vinlet slot Q6 provided in its side wall" for communication with the.l drying compartment along the terminus of the bottoni wall' 16. v Thesupply conduit Q2 is supplied with dry heated air, as by means ofta fan,and the exhaust conduit 24 is connected with an exhaust fan.

Y In the operation of the'apparatumthe 'fabricis vrtransmitted'progressively along the support. l1 over the brush, and the brush isactuated to subject the under surface of the fabric tothe action of itsbristles, Heated dry air'is'forc'cd through the supply conduitwlieiiceit is distributed across the width of the 'machine and emittedthrough the outlet slot'125into the drying coii'ipartnient adiacent'thefabric. In the drying compartment thefheateld dry air comes in contactwith the brush bristles and dries from them the moistnrew'h'ichthey takeup from the fabric. A quantity 'of the dry air is 'tanned into Contactwith the fabric and through its'pile bythe A unit includes a brush 1,5suit-.-

action of the brush. In such fashion the moisture is quickly andthoroughly extracted from the fabric. The air is held against escape atthe top of the drying compartment by the contact of the fabric with thetop walls 19 of theair chests, The air which has taken on moisture tendsto seek the lower portion of the drying compartment and is drawn outthrough the slot 26 into the withdrawal @Cim1 partment by the suctioninduced in the exhaust Conduit 2eY b the exhaust fan;V Lint which may bebrus ed oif of the fabric, detaches itself from the brush as the latterdries, and tends to form into light bunches which roll .down the wall 16and are carried away in the exhaust. When no fabric is beingtransmit-ted over the drying compartment,

the heated air is held against escape therefrom by the proximity of theretaining plate 12 A machine may be equipped with as many of thesedrying units as may be desired so that the fabricis submitted to theiractions successively. In such fashion a very rapid and very thoroughdrying of the fabric is accomplished and the surface is f lossedup andmatting and streaking of the soft pile surfaces avoided. '.Materialwhich might tend to soil the fabric 'is withdrawn and ac cumulation ofdbris in the machine is prevented. A particular advantage liesin thefact that in instances where a soap solution is used for cleaning thefabric, any of the solution remaining afterthe cleaning is not onlydried from the fabric but the light powdery residue is completelybrushed out ofthe fabric before the latter is delivered from themachine. Thisl eliminates from the completed article the soap dust whichis usually found remaining in rugs as now de livered from renovatingVtreatments. sub-v stantial saving in operating cost is attainedby thisapparatus due to the. fact that itinay bel continuously operated to dryone portion of the rug while another portion isstill undergoing thescrubbing operation, and due to its limited requirements'of floor spacefor installation.

Vire claim: Y i l combination, means for feeding a fabric progressively`a housing arranged to C Qnne air in Contact with the lower surface ofthe fabric, a movable brush operating inside the housingl to brush the.fabi-ic, .the housing having a bottom wall sloping away from the brush,and means for circulating air through said housing and down its slopingwall.d

2. In a drier, in Combination, means for moving a fabric progressively,wiper arranged t0 Sweep the saine and. extendingtransversely itsdirection of movement., ail" chests extending alongside the wiper forcooperation with the fabric opposite sidesjof the wiper, and ineensv.for moving heated airfrom one to the other of said chests across thewiper and fabric. Y

`3. In a drying machine, in combination, a wiper extending transverselyof the machine,

air chests extending on opposite sides of the wiper, means forcirculating air betweenthe chests and means for progressively advancinga sheet of fabric in contact with the chests and wiper.

4. In a drying machine, in combination, a frame, means for progressivelyadvancing a fabric longitudinally thereof, a pluralityof wipersextending transversely of the frame for cooperation with the fabric, air

chests extending transversely of the frame at opposite sides of thewipers and means for circulating air from one air chest to another incontact with the fabric and wipers.

5. In a drying machine,in combination,

a support for sustaining a fabric in fiat position, a brush arranged tooperate on theV progressively moving a fabric across said opening incontact with the brush, a retainingplate for holding the fabric in closerelationship to said opening and means for circulating drying airthrough the housing in a direction opposite tothe progressive movementofthe fabric.

7. In a drying machine, in combination, a

support for a sheet of fabric, a plurality of brushes` arranged inoperable association therewith, air chests arranged on opposite sides ofsaid brushes, each of said chests i comprising a supply compartment andan exhaust compartment, said compartments having outlet and Vinletcommunication with the brushes, means for supplyingair through thesupply compartments and means for exhausting air through the exhaustcompart-V ments.

8. In a drying machine, in combination, means for moving a fabricprogressively, brush arranged for operation on the underi side of thefabric, a compartment housing if fr.

the brush below the fabric, said housing having a downwardly slopingwall, and being provided with an inlet at its upper portion and anoutlet at the lower terminus of said i wall, means for supplying airthrough the inlet and means for exhausting air through the outlet.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

STEPHEN CHASE, IV. BENJAMIN S. PFEIFFER.

